After you listen, let me know what you think of Holly. It’s really hard to put into words how good this book really is. And Holly is simply a delight to talk to. I encourage you to read The Sideways Life of Denny Voss. You won’t be sorry.

Check out Holly's website here ⬇️⬇️⬇️

                                   https://www.hollykennedy.com/

And until next time, take care of one another, treat each other the way you want to be treated, and as always, thanks for listening.

Then after you listen, tell me.....Are you excited to read The Ferryman’s Daughter, out now, and Zero Margin, which drops March 2027? Of course you are. I am too. As usual, Yasmin is a delight, and I can’t wait until she comes back for episode one hundred and one.

Check out her website here ⬇️⬇️⬇️

https://yasminangoe.com/

And follow her on Instagram here ⬇️⬇️⬇️

author_yasminangoe

And until next time, take care of one another, treat each other well, and always, thanks for listening.

And after you listen, tell me what you think of the Milwaukee cop who became a San Francisco cop who became a bestselling author? I think he’s amazing. I’m going to use a tired old saying here…run, don’t walk, to your nearest bookstore or website and get his books. You won’t be sorry.

Check out Adam's website here ⬇️⬇️⬇️

https://www.adamplantinga.com/

Amazon customer? Check out his page here ⬇️⬇️⬇️

https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B00O511D6K?ccs_id=28fb877a-84b0-400e-bd2c-3f8a9567829d

Until next time, take care of one another, read some fantastic books, and as always, thanks for listening.

And after you listen, let me know what you think of David. I absolutely love how he uses positive affirmations to talk himself up, instead of putting himself down. He’s completely right that most people probably think doing that is weird or touchy-feely. But so what? As he said, he’s the most valuable thing that he possesses. I hope you feel the same way about yourself. And if you don’t? Put in some work.

Check out David's website here: 👇🏽👇🏽👇🏽

                                  https://daviddeanehaskell.com/

I’m looking forward to having David on again, and I’m also looking forward to giving you more positive people doing what they do best. So until next time, take care of one another, love yourself, and as always, thanks for listening.

After you listen, let me know what you think. Is she a joy or what? If anyone embodies positivity, it’s Kieran. She was an absolute joy to talk to, and I certainly hope she comes back on. Make sure you check out her newest book, The Getaway, then go check out all of her other books. Check out her Amazon page here: 👇🏽👇🏽👇🏽

https://www.amazon.com/stores/Kieran-Scott/author/B001HMNM32?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1787006557&sr=8-1&shoppingPortalEnabled=true&ccs_id=e942fc75-4db2-46d3-9881-e6dd20f021aa

Her website here: 👇🏽👇🏽👇🏽

https://www.kieranscott.com/

And you can also follow her on Instagram and Threads: @kieranscottauthor.

So until next time, take care of one another, be kind to each other, and as always, thanks for listening.

After you've listened, please let me know what you think. There’s an old saying that goes, never meet your heroes. Well, I’m happy to say that does not apply to having your heroes on your podcast. As I mentioned before, I’ve been a fan for over twenty-five years, and I’m still a fan. I’d recommend all of his work, books and films, but I’m especially partial to the Derek Strange series. 

Here's a link to his IMDB page so you can check out his filmography:

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0670782/

Then, head over to his Amazon page to peruse his written work:

https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B000AQ4T38?ccs_id=2dfa3ebf-bfdb-430b-aa6b-83e133a9832e

I’d like to thank Mr. Pelecanos for taking the time to talk to a small independent podcaster, and I’d like to thank all my listeners for the same thing. So until next time, take care of one another, and as always, thanks for listening.

And after you listen, let me know what you think of George’s 2nd episode. It’s tough for me to talk about novels and not give away any significant plot twists, just ask a friend or two, but George’s novels are so amazing, I just want to talk all about them. Anyway, I highly recommend that you read all of his novels, but especially this one, just to learn about how awful puppy farms and dogfighting are. It’s truly eye-opening. I’d like to thank George for coming on, and I am eagerly waiting  his next novel so I can invite him back. I hope you come back as well. So, until next time, take care of one another, and thanks for listening.

Make sure you check out George's website here:

https://georgeprior.com/

If you're an Amazon shopper, check out his books here:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DGVZKW6V?binding=kindle_edition&qid=1783894620&sr=8-1&ref=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_pc_tkin

After you listen, tell me what you think of Martin. Whoops, I meant Marlon. He didn’t realize I was a police officer until about three-quarters of the way through the interview. Up until that point, he was keeping his language PG. Once he found out, the curse words flew. Such a fun interview and a fantastic guy. Make sure you check him out on YouTube, IG, and his website, which I’ll link in the description.

Here's "The Marlon Marrache Show" YouTube link: ⬇️⬇️⬇️

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTkpEPUwRpbaMMLb1saX9zA

Follow him on Instagram: ⬇️⬇️⬇️

@themarracheshow

And on the web: ⬇️⬇️⬇️

https://www.bluconsultinginc.com/

So until next time, take care of one another, and as always, thanks for listening.

After you listen, let me know what you think of Neil. I can’t wait to have him back on. And not just because he’s one of the few guests who is older than me. His perspective on life and the best way to live it is exactly why I created this podcast. This crazy world needs more people like Neil, and I hope that his joy and zest for life inspire others to feel the same way he does.

You can purchase his book here ⬇️⬇️⬇️

https://www.amazon.com/PILE-9-11-First-RespondersA-Story-ebook/dp/B0FFBLV86Q/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3FZ4G5V6WT0TP&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.pgd7IQvMN8BJ_ddtL9DkxU5v14f71eqLxBDTgKSS0cfkLuONERjv358NRIE90Lg1rTcoAO8LRk3UAhmuIvAfJgUGnc04kpNOnzZthUpnfJ3qUMkUcwlhoYxwfraqYG_5TGCsRXOWkaUdy06J9QAqBtEoMYvi6TKqwBXb7d5omEsZOxxyn1cXESrBhaiIfrGO3UDoBkRnUiVPyEdmXcBtl8heOemP_-qqWJ9KNx3mhUU.yHxMN7qCav8EUReZwWbR84sJlGsDGHtJx2UrNpcCcK8&dib_tag=se&keywords=from+the+pile&qid=1776122061&sprefix=from+the+pile%2Caps%2C156&sr=8-1

You can check out his website here ⬇️⬇️⬇️

https://www.readneiladams.com/

Follow him on Instagram: @novelneil45

Until next time, take care of one another, remove the roadblocks that are quelling your happiness, and as always, thanks for listening.

After you listen, tell me what you think of Meghann? She’s incredible, right? Among the many things that truly impresses me about Meghann is the love she has for all first responders and her take on positivity. When you really think about it, she nails what the core of positivity is. Not that life won’t put you in horrible situations, but when they happen, you’ll survive and come out the other side. 

Now that, in my opinion, is life-changing.

I’d like to thank Meghann for coming on the podcast, and I can’t wait to have her on again.

And as always, I’d like to thank you for listening and supporting me and my mission. Until next time, take care of each other and treat each other with kindness and respect.

After you've listened, let me know what you think about Chief Linas. I know that I sound like a broken record every time I say this, but I am astounded by the amount of strength people have as they navigate through life’s struggles. Chief Linas has been through so much, but she still refuses to walk away from the career that she loves, and she does it to help people; her officers and the community that they serve. She’s truly the light in so many lives.

Until next time, take care of one another, and thanks for listening.

After you listen, let me know what you think of Derrick. It blows my mind that despite not being an avid reader, he’s written two books and is working on a 3rd! He’s such a nice guy, too. Right when he answered the phone, I could tell by his voice that he was smiling and just enjoying life. The world needs a lot more people just like Derrick. It was an honor having him on as a guest, and I sure do hope he comes back.

Follow Derrick on Instagram here: djakz27

And on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/SHADOW-ONE-DERRICK-JACKSON-ebook/dp/B0DFVNN3GD/ref=sr_1_1?crid=GOMK3E99A0OF&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.BFzBl3PD1jyIdSRKjSoEH2Sc2O2Qz9lIz3glgYkHfYwrtaFEY8kCkK7NaSKnxPR5vSTByALx-4kkspTsqm-JuE4CMP3-e0R5Kf6gaxY6lnShynC-UrwqoZSN5pelLHOv6pTHkZZH5QHc45aG805Wk9fvx-J5yFIyq7eZDu72GmNy0qvWdSkWEwf1x2c1CAZ_8jPglbXL6r4gDvv9yFBTRj55QRsVOUwVAcwvRtjLm44.6V0L9c0PPCCzSmsqObSSEqxOG4abEfEZXx_g7OU4qok&dib_tag=se&keywords=derrick+jackson&qid=1772148696&sprefix=%2Caps%2C166&sr=8-1

I hope you come back, too. I truly appreciate your support.

Until next time, take care of one another, and as always, thanks for listening.

After you listen, tell me what you think of Dr. Woo. Truth be told, before most of my episodes with new guests, I’m always a bit nervous making that call to connect with them for the interview. The nervousness was intensified with Dr. Woo because of my lack of knowledge about globalization, but within the first minute or so of the conversation, my nervousness disappeared because Dr. Woo is so friendly and down-to-earth. Plus, his novel sounds classically exciting, so I can’t wait to check it out.

I’d like to thank Dr. Woo for taking the time out of his schedule to talk to me, and wish him the best of luck on his novel and any future Hollywood or Netflix deals that are just around the corner.

Check out Dr. Woo's website here ⬇️⬇️⬇️

https://www.davidwoounbound.com/

And his YouTube page here ⬇️⬇️⬇️

https://www.youtube.com/c/davidwoounbound

And, as always, I’d like to thank you for listening, and I hope you continue to do so.

Until next time, take care of one another, and thanks for listening.

After you listen, be honest.... Did you miss Donna as much as I did? Of course you did. I swear it doesn’t seem possible that it’s been four years since we’ve spoken, but time just hurtles by. I sincerely love Donna’s attitude, her laugh, and, of course, her accent. And I plan on having her on again sooner rather than later. We all need someone like Donna in our lives, and I feel lucky that she’s in mine.

You can find Donna on Instagram: donnamensahauthor

And check her out on YouTube under her stage name, Donna St. Louis, here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qIAcCE9OiQ0

I’m also lucky to have all of you as listeners. I truly appreciate the time you spend listening to my guests and I and I hope you continue to do so.

Until next time, take care of one another, appreciate the wonderful people in your life, and as always, thanks for listening.

After you listen, let me know what you think. She’s awesome, right? Here’s someone who’s not a first responder and doesn’t have first responders in her family, yet she’s chosen a career path to help first responders get through the trauma in their lives. And this episode is just scratching the surface of what Cinnamon has to offer.

So make sure you come back for more episodes with Cinnamon, and make sure you check out her podcast, After The Tone Drops. Here's the link ⬇️⬇️⬇️

https://www.afterthetonesdrop.co/

Until next time, take care of one another, listen to and respect each other, and as always, thanks for listening.

After you listen, let me know what you think of Matt. As I said at the beginning of our conversation, I thought cops had a thankless job until this past month, when I saw what meteorologists have to deal with. I’m truly impressed with the passion Matt has for his job and the positive attitude he has to go along with it. But I sure do wish I hadn’t bought that generator because he told me to.

I’d like to thank Matty D for coming on the podcast and hope that he comes back soon.

I hope you do as well.

So, until next time, take care of one another and as always, thanks for listening.

After the episode, Johnnie texted me a quote, written in 1928 by Edward Bernays about propaganda, part of which I’m going to read here:

"The conscious and intelligent manipulation of the organized habits and opinions of the masses is an important element in a democratic society.

Those who manipulate this unseen mechanism of society constitute an invisible government which is the true ruling power of our country.”

We all need to remember that both political parties use propaganda in order to divide us and give themselves more power and control. So, how do we fight it? It’s easy. Talk to each other, listen to each other, and ignore attempts to make us hate each other.

I’d like to thank Johnnie and El-Amin for another great conversation and look forward to the next one.

Until next time, take care of one another, be kind to each other, and as always, thanks for listening.

After you listen, let me know what you think of Valerie. Her saying that she started writing because the books that she loved reading didn’t represent her really resonated with me. Books and literature should feature diverse characters, cultures, and locations, yet most older books are significantly lacking in all three. Hopefully, strides are being made by authors like Valerie to ensure that everyone feels included in the books that they read.

I’d like to thank Valerie for coming on the podcast, and I can’t wait to talk to her again.

Make sure you check out her website here: 👇🏽👇🏽👇🏽

                                                               https://vmburns.com/

Until next time, take care of one another, be kind to each other, and as always, thanks for listening. 

After you listen, let me know what you think of Shannon. Everyone knows that dispatchers are some of my favorite people, and Shannon is no exception. And the fact that she and her husband fostered so many children really warmed my heart. Whatever the future holds for Shannon and her family, I hope she’ll come back and talk to me some more.

So, until next time, take care of one another, always be kind to one another, and as always, thanks for listening.

 I never know where these conversations are going to go with people that I’ve never met, but as you can tell, our conversation was fantastic. As I mentioned to her afterwards, I’ve never even considered saying “titties” on an episode, yet the word just popped out today. That’s the kind of spontaneity I enjoy, and guests like Tori are why I do this podcast. I’d like to thank her for coming on and hope she comes back soon.

You can find Tori's work on Instagram: tori_renayyy_photography

and.....

Facebook: Tori Renayyy Photography

As always, thanks for listening.

After you listen,  let me know if you heard the surprise (anger) in her voice when I brought the episode to a close. I made sure to reassure her that I was going to have her back on for additional episodes and that she could finish her story and tell me more. My only caveat was that she had to give me a hard time for cutting her short. Not surprisingly, she readily agreed. So stay tuned for future Jenna episodes. And as always, thanks for listening.

Then, after you listen, let me know what you think of Katherine. For me, as a 33-year veteran of law enforcement, the fact that a civilian cares enough to see police officers as regular, everyday people, people who are mothers and fathers and sisters and brothers, and sons and daughters, is a rare and wonderful thing. 2020 was a rough year for police officers, and many of us are still recovering from it. Now we're having to contend with a resurgence of anti-law enforcement rhetoric, so it's nice to know that we have people like Katherine in our corner.

You can catch up with Katherine on IG: @theltsdaughter or check out her podcast here 👇🏽👇🏽👇🏽

https://www.beyondtheuniform.co/

I'd like to thank Katherine for coming on the podcast, and I look forward to talking to her again soon. Until next time, take care of one another, listen to one another, and as always, thanks for tuning in. 

As always, I want to thank Yasmin for joining me again to talk about this and that. She’s a joy to talk to and one of my favorite people on the planet. Be sure to check out all of her books on her website, Yasminangoe.com, Amazon, or at your favorite bookstore.

Here's a link to her website 👇🏽👇🏽👇🏽

                                 https://yasminangoe.com/

As always, take care of one another, be kind to one another, and thanks for listening.

 I’d like to thank Kathy again, not only for taking time out of her schedule to talk to a guy with a small podcast, but for having the patience to put up with technical difficulties, vis-à-vis not hitting the record button on his equipment. She truly is a remarkable person and I sure do hope she’ll come back on a third time so we can chat some more. Make sure that you check out her new book, Evil Bones, and head over to her website to keep up with her while she’s on her hiatus.

                                             https://kathyreichs.com/

Until next time, take care of one another and, as always, thanks for listening.

Then after you listen, let me know.....Is Tracy a hoot or what? We haven’t spoken since the last time I interviewed her, but she’s just so funny and easy to talk to, it feels like we talk all the time. She’s direct, straightforward, humble and brilliant. What more could you ask for in a person? I’d like to thank Tracy for coming on again and I hope she comes back on many more times. She’s always welcome. So, until next time, take care of one another, ignore the bad folks, lift up the good ones, and as always, thanks for listening.

Check out Tracy's website here ⬇️⬇️⬇️

https://tracyclarkbooks.com/

After you listen, let me know what you think. So many people, especially military and first responders, have so embedded themselves in their roles that when they leave their profession, they feel adrift and no longer part of their extended family. This leaves them feeling untethered and lost, which can lead to depression and addiction. I appreciate how honest Anthony is about his struggles and how he’s working to overcome them. And stay positive and help others as well. Anthony is truly a hero and I hope he comes back for another episode.

Check out his book on Amazon:

Moon Child: The Roots and Wings of a USAF Combat Special Missions Aviator

https://www.amazon.com/Moon-Child-Special-Missions-Aviator/dp/B0DZMXBHJ4

Until next time, take care of one another, and thanks for listening.

After you listen, let me know what you think of Shaka. As I said when speaking to him, I think the Come Together Music Project is absolute genius. Why on earth hasn’t anyone thought of this before? We get so caught up in the online comments and nasty stuff, that we tend to forget that we have more in common with each other than we realize. And that’s regardless of race, gender, religion and especially the bottomless pit of politics. Human beings are so much more than that. We’re all in this together and it takes people like Shaka to remind us of this. I’d like to thank Shaka for coming on the show and I really hope that he comes on again. 

I highly recommend the you check out The Come Together Music Project on YouTube. You won't regret it.

So unitl next time, take care of one antoher, talk to one another, and treat each other the way you want to be treated. And as always, thanks for listening.

 After you listen, I have a question. Have you ever met someone and from the first few sentences they speak, you know that you’re going to enjoy talking to them? That’s how I felt talking with Elle. She’s such a down to earth and funny person, the interview just flew by. Make sure you check out her new book, The Lie She Wears, when it’s released, then head out to your bookstore or go to her website and catch up on her previous books. There’s a lot to choose from. 

Check out her website here ⬇️⬇️⬇️

https://ellemarr.com/

I’d like to thank Elle for being a guest and thank you for tuning in. Until next time, take care of one another and thanks for listening.

After you listen, tell me what you think of Dan. I think the storyline behind his novel, Magi Apprentice, is fascinating. And you have got to check out his books. Every one of them looks like a must-read. Dan made an excellent point when I asked him how he stays positive in these turbulent times. I think we all need to find something to believe in so we can remain positive when it seems like so many forces are trying to push us towards hatred and division.

Check out Dan's website here: ⬇️⬇️⬇️

https://danehendrickson.com/

I hope you find the belief that keeps you centered and positive.

Until next time, take care of one another, and as always, thanks for listening.

You know, sometimes it seems rare that you hit it off with someone you’ve never met and immediately feel comfortable talking to that person. Well, right from the start, Dominic was easy to talk to and he’s so insightful that it’s hard to stop talking to him. I think that’s what’s lacking in today’s interactions: actually talking to someone.Not texting them or commenting back and forth over social media posts. We need to rediscover the art of conversation. It will make us all better people. 

Make sure you check out Dominic’s book on Amazon and Barnes and Noble. You won’t be sorry.

Check out Dominic here ⬇️⬇️⬇️

IG: @dominichoffman18

Facebook: https://facebook.com/stage.screen.pen

And buy his book here: ⬇️⬇️⬇️

https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Late-Rehearsals/Dominic-Hoffman/9781998076468

Until next time, take care of one another, talk to one another.

As always, thank for listening.

After you listen, let me know your thoughts on Ryan and Clear Path for Veterans. As I mentioned in our conversation, the drill sergeant saying, “Welcome Home” to Ryan at their first meeting really struck a chord with me. So many veterans feel out of place and on their own when they leave the service, giving them a safe place to call home is quite simply, incredible. I’m truly honored that Ryan agreed to come on the podcast and I hope he comes back soon. 

I highly encourage you to check out Clear Path's website here: ⬇️⬇️⬇️

https://www.clearpath4vets.com

Until next time, take care of one another, and as always, thanks for listening.

 I consider myself neither Democrat nor Republican, liberal nor conservative. I’m firmly independent and like to think that I view the world through a lens of common sense. I’m sure people have differing opinions on whether Trump Derangement Syndrome is real or whether Charlie Kirk spoke the truth. There’s nothing wrong with disagreeing with one another. In fact, healthy debate is good for everyone. What angers me is when people use the words ‘Nazi’ and ‘fascist’ so casually. Especially when the words are used by people who’ve received a higher education and should know better. All that being said, I know that despite the high concentration of hate that pervades social media, in real life, people are kind to each other every, single day. Let’s keep it up.

If you'd like to explore more of Dr. Lieberman's work, check out the link here: ⬇️⬇️⬇️

https://terroristtherapist.com/

Unitl next time, take care of one another, and as always, thanks for listening.

Check out all of Christa's books here: ⬇️⬇️⬇️

https://www.christacarmen.com/

Until next time, take care of one another, and as always, thanks for listening.

And after you listen, what’s your take on what was discussed?  I’m so glad that my podcast is completely independent and I can have on any guests that I want and they can say whatever they’d like. There’s no one sponsoring me and no one to tell me what I can and can’t talk about. If there’s any other podcast out there that’s as honest as mine, I haven’t heard it. And if there are any guests out there like Johnnie and El-Amin, I haven’t heard them. These guys are the best, and I’m honored to have them on as regular guests. I hope you continue to enjoy them as much as I do. I think that honesty and frank conversations are the backbone of positivity, and I plan on having Johnnie and El-Amin on for many episodes to come. So, until next time, take care of one another, be honest and respectful of one another, and as always, thanks for listening.

 I have no idea how to follow not one, but two stories about chimps on the loose. I’d like to thank Steve for coming on the show and highly encourage my listeners to check out the Hanover County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page. I truly enjoy working for this agency, and the people that I work with are the best in the business. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. If you love where you were and love where you are, you are extremely lucky. And I consider myself lucky. So until next time, take care of one another and as always, thanks for listening.

 I hope that none of us will ever have to suffer through the loss of a child. To me, and I imagine to most parents, that loss would be unimaginable. To even think about it is just not real. But Mindy and her family have been living with this for nearly two years. I want to thank Mindy for talking about Lindsey’s life and death, and I hope that listening to her will help anyone living through similar grief, get through each day, one step at a time.

Until next time, take care of one another, tell your kids you love them, and as always, thanks for listening.

 It angers me that some peple in the health care field actually post signs like, ‘The only good cop is a dead cop’ on their wall. I mean, really, really makes me mad. As I’m typing this, people in Texas are having to come to grips with a flash flood that killed dozens of people, including children at a summer camp. One of the news outlets reported that a pediatrician in Texas was fired because she posted on a social media page that the people who died got what they deserved because of how the majority of the state voted in the 2024 election. The audacity, ignorance, stupidity, and wickedness of people still astound me. But don’t worry, I have faith that part two will bring some much-needed positivity to the world. 

So, until next time, take care of one another, and as always, thanks for listening.

What are your views on mental health in general and on men's mental health in particular? Do you think that there's a difference between men's mental health and women's mental health? Should there be different strategies between the genders or is there a one-size-fits all for everyone? Do you think that people from different generations handle mental health differently? There are always going to be  a ton of questions about mental health and I'm always in favor of talking about them. If any listeners out there would like to do an episode about mental health, reach out to me and we'll make it happen. 

Until next time, take care of one another and take care of yourself. And as always, thanks for listening.

After you listen, let me know what you think of Nikki and Trisha. They're both fun to talk to individually, but talking to them both together is a blast. As we were all texting back and forth, figuring out the logistics for the episode, Trisha sent a text that said, "This will be the only time Jamie can say that he's had a three way with two black women...." Does it get any better than that? I think not. I'd like to thank Nikki and Trisha for coming on the episode and I hope to have them back on soon. So until next time, take care of one another and as always, thanks for listening.

 I know some don't agree with me and probably will never agree with me about my views on January 6th and the riots in 2020. But to be honest, I could care less. My experiences were my own and I wasn't exposed to anywhere near the danger that Ski and the rest of the brave men and women of the Richmond Police Department, the Henrico Police Department, the Virginia Commonwealth University Police Department, the Chesterfield Police Department and the Virginia State Police faced. I obviously can't speak for all the officers who were subjected to the physical and verbal abuse from multiple sources, but it still affects me to this day and probably always will. I want to thank Ski for coming on the podcast and reliving such a horrible time in Richmond's history. Thanks for listening.

The photos in this episode were provided by Ski.

After you listen, let me know what you think. Personally I truly enjoyed talking to him. He’s so down to earth and on more than one occasion, he turned the tables and mentioned my website and my novels. I’m flattered when guests do that, but it makes me a little uncomfortable as well because my podcasts are about my guests and the impact that they have on my listeners, not necessarily me. That being said, after talking to George for less than two minutes, I felt as if I’d known him for years and the conversation was easy. That, I think, is the gift of a great person and a great writer. Make sure you check out both of George’s books, 78 Degrees and Bloody, the debut novel, then Dead Safe. You can find his books on Amazon and on his website, which I’ll link to below. Hopefully after he publishes his next book, he’ll come on again and we can talk some more.

So until next time, take care of one another, and as always, thanks for listening.

Check out George's website here ⬇️⬇️⬇️

 https://georgeprior.com/

 Do you agree or disagree with Johnnie’s and El-Amin’s opinions? Did the interview make you angry or make you think differently? The goal of this podcast is to increase positivity and to give people a place to express their opinions without any judgement or censorship. And I intend to keep doing this for as long as I can. Stay tuned for an episode with two women discussing their reaction to this episode and their opinions on what it means to be women in today’s world. 

So, until next time, take care of one another and even if you don’t agree with someone’s opinion, treat them with the respect that they deserve and expect the same from them.

After you listen, let me know what you think.  Rick and I worked on the same homicide team for years. The first time we went to a house together, we rang the doorbell and the woman inside saw us and turned her dogs loose. From that day forward, I knew that it would be an adventure with Rick, and I wasn’t wrong. Rick’s come a long way since that day, but his love for the men and women of the Richmond Police Department hasn’t changed, nor has his mission to serve and protect the citizens of Richmond. I’d like to thank Rick for taking the time to talk to me and I hope to have him on again. 

Until next time, take care of on another and as always, thanks for listening.

After you listen, tell me what you think of our interview. I wanted to emphasize Sybil’s passion about educating officers on different ways to think about diversity. Too often, we tend to hear about how diversity classes, at least the ones that get attention in the media, seem to try and lay blame at the feet of one race, and make victims out of other races. In my opinion, classes like that aren’t teaching diversity, they’re driving a wedge between people of all cultures. That’s not only not helpful, it’s harmful. I think Sybil’s method of teaching is so much better. Plus, she’s funny as hell. 

Until next time, take care of one another and as always, thanks for listening.

https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B001JS1EOS?ccs_id=b7067ecd-199b-4244-b8de-ae9f2fb70ab2

And visit his website here:

https://bryangruley.com/

And until next time, take care of one another and as always, thanks for listening.

After you listen, let me know what you think. For me, the experience was surreal because I distinctly remember watching Randy on COPS before I became a cop. But beyond his work on television, in the movies and his books, what’s truly amazing is how much he cares not only for cops, but for wounded cops who’ve been abandoned by their departments. I encourage everyone listening to check out Randy’s organization, The Wounded Blue and listen to his podcast, A Cops Life.

https://thewoundedblue.org/

Until next time, take care of another and treat people the way we all want to be treated. 

Thanks for listening.

 After you listen, tell me think about having them both on as regular guests. They bring so much knowledge and love to the table that I just have to keep them coming back. If you think of something that you want us to discuss, shoot me an email or if we know each other, send me a text. My hope is that through my guests, we create a more positive world. A world that’s full of love and acceptance. A world that lacks negativity and hatred. I hope you join me in this continuing journey.

As always, take care of one another and thanks for listening.

After you listen, let me know what you think about El-Amin. I don’t think that I’ve ever spoken with someone who is so passionate about what they do. His compassion and honesty are just so real, you can’t help but wish more people would be the same way. He says that he’s not a saint, but I think the kids that he helps would disagree. Head over to Facebook and look him up: Alexander El-Amin.

So, until next time, take care of one another, and as always, thanks for listening.

After you listen, tell me whAT you think of Greg. Isn’t it amazing how an idea he had to share with a friend, turned into an online puzzle site,  which led to a literary agent reaching out to him and THAT led to him being a bestselling author? You just never know when success will come your way, but you should never stop trying. And you should never stop being positive. Do your best to not let the naysayers and bitter people get into your head. As I’ve said before, I think that most people in the world are good people and only want to live their best lives and help others when they can.  Make sure you check out Greg’s books on Amazon and head over to his website to try his puzzles 👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼

https://murdle.com/

Until next time, take care of one another and thanks for listening.

And after you listen, tell me what  think of Keanna and Dria.There’s just something about police dispatchers that amazes me. I’ve worked with them for over thirty years and can’t imagine doing the job that they do. They have to stay calm when nearly everyone else is in the midst of a crisis, be it a caller or a police officer. I’m not sure that I could do it. And touching on something else that they, as well as another Richmond dispatcher that I’ve interviewed, Demetria Ross, mentioned was therapy and simply needing someone to talk to. Someone that you can trust. I think that that’s so important in this crazy world that we live in and I sincerely hope that everyone has or can find, someone that they can talk to.

As always, take care of one another, and thanks for listening.

 I could probably talk and listen to Mike for hours. Like all great journalists, and anyone else for that matter, truth is what’s most important to him. Because truth leads to awareness and we should all be aware of injustices that take place in our world. It’s the only one that we’ve got and we’ve only got each other, so shouldn’t we strive to make this the best planet that we can? 

I’d like to thank Mike for taking the time to talk to me and I hope to talk to him again soon. I’d also like to thank you for tuning in. This podcast wouldn’t be what it is without my listeners and my guests and I’m grateful to you all.

Check out Mike's website here ⬇️⬇️⬇️

https://mikebondbooks.com

Until next time, take care of one another and treat others the way that you’d like to be treated.

Once you listen to the episode, let me know what you think.  As I mentioned in the interview, Lela and I have been trying to get our schedules to coincide for months and they finally did. Thank goodness. Lela was a joy to talk to and I love her outlook on life. I think we all need to remember that upheaval isn’t necessarily a bad thing and more importantly, people are people and we all just want to live out lives the best way that we know how. 

You can visit Lela's website here ⬇️⬇️⬇️

https://lelagrace.co/lela-tuhtan

Until next time, and as always, take care of one another, and thanks for listening. 

After you listen to it, tell me what you think. It’s always refreshing for me to talk to police officers who are still positive about the job and long to share that positivity with other officers, whether or not they’re older officers or new recruits. I’ve been around cops for the past thirty years and never realized how few women there really are in the profession. That’s crazy and I’m glad Lauren is working to try and correct those percentages. And not only to get more women interested in law enforcement, but once they’re in, to get them to go further and take leadership positions. Make sure that you check out Lauren’s Instagram, give her a follow, then tune in to her podcast. The more positivity out there the better.

Here's her Instagram ⬇️⬇️⬇️

@ladycoplauren

I want to thank Lauren for taking the time to come on the show and as always, I’d like to thank you for listening. 

Until next time, take care of one another and treat each other the way that you want to be treated. We’re all on this planet together. 

That’s it guys. What’d you think of Keanna? I think she’s hilarious, insightful and just an all around marvelous person. And that’s the amazing thing about doing this podcast. I talk to so many people about so many things, many of whom I’ve never met before. But the main thing that they all have in common is their positivity. And my guests come from many different backgrounds, religions, etc. But here, in this place, what matters the most is what’s inside of them. Shouldn’t that be what’s important to all of us? I think so. 

Until next time, take care of one another, give it to each other straight with no chaser, and most importantly, thanks for listening.

What’d you think? Do you approve or disapprove of James putting a Trump 2024 post on his IG? I guess the more snarky question would be, do you approve or disapprove of free speech? James lost 3000(!!) followers because they couldn’t see past their hatred and didn’t hang around for his second post explaining the experiment. It just goes to show you how brainwashed people can be. Personally, I loved his experiment and thought that it was brilliant. Anytime someone can expose ignorance and spinelessness is a good thing. We’re all on this planet together. Let’s try to take care of one another, treat each other with respect and recognize that everyone is entitled to their own political opinion and regardless of that opinion, always, and I mean always, follow The Golden Rule.

You can find James' book here ⬇️⬇️⬇️

https://www.amazon.com/Town-Without-Name-James-Murray-ebook/dp/B09P2RZ946/ref=pd_ybh_a_d_sccl_1/136-1681419-4674432?pd_rd_w=nYmmk&content-id=amzn1.sym.67f8cf21-ade4-4299-b433-69e404eeecf1&pf_rd_p=67f8cf21-ade4-4299-b433-69e404eeecf1&pf_rd_r=FDTYGNJ1REVZ1KFZV45J&pd_rd_wg=Be9QG&pd_rd_r=8bcbc27a-a913-42ef-8a7e-5e0faba51ac4&pd_rd_i=B09P2RZ946&psc=1

Until next time, respect and take care of one another. And thanks for listening.

Once you listen,  can you BELIEVE that child marriage is still LEGAL in so many states? I still can’t wrap my head around it.  Here's a list of the ONLY states that have ENDED child marriage:

Delaware

New Jersey

Vermont

Rhode Island

Connecticut 

New Hampshire

Massachusetts 

Virginia

Pennsylvania 

New York

Washington 

Minnesota

Michigan 

And the Virgin Islands.

Check out the links below for more information:

https://search.app/NHYwEEP9DmK9PfZd9

https://search.app/Mc6zhDvnzAkVWkFq5

https://search.app/PPXSMSe9cbYxdt5j6

https://preventforcedmarriage.org/

I’d like to thank Abby and her mom for coming on and educating me about this unbelievable situation, not to mention the incredible work that CPS workers do to protect the children.

Please spread the word and get involved.

And as always, take care of one another and thanks for listening.

Bestselling author 

Forensic Anthropologist certified by the American Board of Forensic Anthropology 

A producer of the Fox show Bones, a show I might add is based partly on her fictional character Temperance Brennan AND  the author herself.

Mother of three kids......

Kathy Reichs!!

Kathy was kind enough to come on my small podcast and let me ask her a metric ton of questions. So sit back, relax and I hope you enjoy our conversation.

Then after you listen, don't you think that It’s absolutely staggering how much Kathy has done and still does. I can’t imagine trying to maintain the schedule that she does, yet she still finds the time to get peppered with questions by a retired homicide detective.

If you haven’t already, and if you haven’t, why not? Head over to her website or Amazon or anywhere else in the world and dig in to Kathy’s novels. And while you’re at it, check out Bones on Fox.

Check out her website here: ⬇️⬇️⬇️

https://kathyreichs.com/

As usual, take care of one another, and thanks for listening.

Kathy Reichs_credit Marie-Reine Mattera.jpg

 Ans as I said after the first time that I spoke with her that it felt as if we’d known each other for years. And since it’s been a year since we spoke last, I still feel the same way. But I’ve got a feeling that anyone who speaks to Yasmin feels the same way. She’s just such a wonderful person, you can’t help but think that you’ve known her just about forever. We absolutely need more people in this world like Yasmin and I feel lucky that she counts me as one of her friends. 

Make sure you check out her book over on Amazon or at her website:

https://yasminangoe.com

So until next time, take care of each other, treat each other well and as always, thanks for listening.

Then, after you listen....

Are you still here or did you leave once Johnnie mentioned that scary, scary word: Trump? It constantly amazes me how stubborn and hardheaded even the most educated people can be when it comes to politics. Religion, abortion and gender as well. Luckily, despite what the corporate world tries to push, regular, everyday people, no matter the color of their skin, their religious faith or lack thereof, their gender, etc. get along with one another, converse with one another and live in relative harmony with one another. 

So as this contentious election draws closer and the corporate world goes into overdrive trying to get us to hate each other, remember that we’re better than they are and that they need us. Not the other way around. 

And most importantly of all, take care of one another. No. Matter. What.

Thanks for listening.

After you check out the episode, let me know what you think of Wes.

 I sure do enjoy talking to young police officers who, instead of being disenfranchised by the job, instead decide to make positive change. Change that not only affects the officers on the street, but the citizens that they serve. Because despite what many in the media want you to believe, police officers want to help people and make their lives better. Which is exactly what Wes and his co-founder want to do. If his creation sounds interesting to you, I suggest that you reach out to him to him at his website:

http://www.ireport.us

Remember, we’re all in this together and together we can all make this world a better and safer place.

Until next time, take care of one another and as always, thanks for listening. 

After you listen, let me know what you think. Prior to recording the episode, I asked him if he’d prefer that I call him ‘David’ or ‘Judge’. He replied, “Well, do you want me to call you detective or Jamie?” We decided to go with first names and I can say without a doubt, he is the most down to earth, funny, intelligent and nicest judges and person that I’ve ever met. 

How funny? Just before we were set to start recording I got a text from him that read:

Jefferson Starship and side of Cole slaw please.

Turns out that was a dinner request text to his wife. Now it’s none of my business how Jefferson Starship comes into play…. The imagination runs wild with innuendo, but it sure made for an awesome episode title.

I truly hope that he comes back on the show, because as I think you can tell, it was an absolute pleasure to talk to him. I hope you enjoyed our conversation and I highly recommend that you check out his books here ⬇️⬇️⬇️

                                        https://davidellis.com/

Until next time, take care of on another, and thanks for listening.

 Many of you who know me, know that I was a Homicide detective in the City of Richmond in 2020. I was not on the front lines of Richmond’s protests and riots; that was handled by the brave women and men in uniform. I was present on the roof of RPD HQ when the protests kicked off and saw people yell obscenities at me and other detectives watching the crowd simply because we were police officers. I was there when the RPD HQ was in danger of being overrun and the other HQ personnel and I were relocated to 2nd Precinct in case the HQ building was breached. I could go on and on about the betrayal of police officers in Richmond and nationwide, by not only some citizens, but by some of the city’s leaders as well, but I won’t. 

But I will also never forget, either.

And I will always stay positive.

Until next time, take care of one another and thanks for listening.

You can find Liz's book here: ⬇️⬇️⬇️

https://www.amazon.com/Theyre-Lying-Media-Death-George/dp/B0BJNG6N8D/ref=sr_1_1?crid=9E7JZ77X2660&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.7eqoDauTAOeDcjHf1czz__Vsn1wfjl9oDCxxvtQeak_GjHj071QN20LucGBJIEps.GgeFYznsBPwJvnbtYC9urMY-nuE1KTIuQPMK_UK2rcI&dib_tag=se&keywords=they%27re+lying+liz+collin&qid=1719529762&sprefix=liz+collin+they%2Caps%2C468&sr=8-1

And the fantastic documentary, 'The Fall of Minneapolis' here: ⬇️⬇️⬇️

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFPi3EigjFA&t=26s

 After you listen to it, see if you noticed that despite the title of this episode and the fact that I’d planned to ask Tim about The Infiltrator, we never actually got around to talking about the book itself. Suffice it say, one topic led to another and I was asking so many questions I never got around to asking him about his second book! Have no fear; if you liked The Instructor, you’re going to love The Infiltrator! I’d like to thank Tim for taking the time to talk about his second novel to a guy with a small podcast who didn’t even ask him much about the second novel he was supposed to ask about. Try saying five times fast. Make sure you head over to Amazon and grab a copy of The Infiltrator, then check out Tim’s website for more information on this great guy.

The links are below 👇

Amazon page:

https://www.amazon.com/Infiltrator-Derek-Harrington-Novel-ebook/dp/B0C3YR1SZ3/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3HX8FJR0N5H1Q&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.lBriYsTNQObiDFsL9zK0mQ.rbJsyGMRfNS0WvOGON4_zAWnJxVnwBXOge1cFK3Adi8&dib_tag=se&keywords=tim+hendricks+the+infiltrator&qid=1716039461&sprefix=tim+hendricks+the+infiltrato%2Caps%2C731&sr=8-1

Author page:

https://trhendricksauthor.com/

As always, take care of one another and thanks for listening.

Once you listen, drop me a line and let me know what you think.  Are you as amazed at Ashley as much as I am? She is one of the bravest, courageous, humble, funny and honest person that I have ever had the pleasure to speak with. I truly feel honored that she took the time out of her schedule to share her experience with me and my listeners. Ashley helped so many people when she was a police officer and now she’s extended her reach to help even more people.

That’s what life is all about. Helping each other and working toward the common goal of peace and respect for everyone.

I’d like to thank Ashley again for coming on the podcast and continuing to do the good that she does.

And thank you for listening. Take care of one another.

If you'd like to see the Halo view of Ashley's shooting, you can view it here:

https://www.police1.com/police-heroes/articles/new-video-shows-colo-officers-efforts-in-stopping-gunmans-shooting-spree-LmcKmomawZ09JfOC/

I want to thank Lee again for the laughter and the wisdom, and I hope that many more books are on the way. And I also hope that he was joking about killing a hooker after he hung up with me. You can check out the website below to peruse Lee’s large library of books, as well as more biographical information on this amazingly talented and funny man.

http://www.leegoldberg.com

Until next time, take care of one another and thanks for listening.

After you listen to it, let me know what you think about Jon.  It’s easy to get a picture in your head of how you think a famous person is going to be. How they’re going to talk. How they’re going to interact with everyday people. How, how, how. I had no idea going into this interview how down to earth Jon was going to be. Talking to him was like taking to someone you’d meet in a coffeehouse, or bookstore or record shop. Just such a great guy and I truly enjoyed our conversation. Make sure that you check out his new novel, Hollywood Hustle and let’s hope he’s got more on the way.  Here's a link to his website:

https://www.jonlindstrom.com/actor

I want to thank Jon for taking the time to talk to me and I’d like to thank you for taking the time to listen. We’re all in this together and together, we can make this world a better place. Until next time, take care of one another and thanks again for listening.

Once you listen to the episode, let me know what you think.  Is it just me or do you just feel better after talking to someone with his outlook on life? He summed it up nicely when he said that our time here on earth is short. So, why waste it on hate and division? Why let evil people get rich while they try to divide us? All the good people in this world, and I still believe that there are more good people than bad, need to stick together and treat each other with love and respect, despite our differences. In fact, it’s our differences that make this world such a wonderful place in which to exist. So let’s keep it up and ignore the wicked and embrace the wonderful.

I’d like to thank Jeff for coming on the show and taking time out of his busy schedule to help spread the positive message. Make sure you check out his show on Richmond radio, WRVA. And until next time, take care of one another and thanks for listening.

You can check out his website here👇🏽👇🏽👇🏽

                                           https://www.thejeffkatzshow.com/

Once you listen to it, let me know what you think.  It seems odd to ask what you think of me, so I won’t.  But I will speak to what Richard and I spoke about right after the interview was over. He mentioned that he’s noticed that I don’t show any bias toward anyone of a different race than I am. I replied that in a perfect world, cops should be the most non-prejudiced people in the world. Why? Because cops see good and bad in all people, regardless of race, sex, religion, etc. I know that evil exists and I know that good exists and it doesn’t matter the physical body in which it resides. My goal with this podccast and with life is to showcase the positive in this world and ignore the negative. And I’ll do it for as long as I can.

I’d like to thank Richard for coming on and interviewing me, and I am definitely going to have him back on to talk more about him. 

So until next time, take care of one another and thanks for listening.

 Once you finish listening. I won't even have to ask if you like Devin because I'll already know the answer. A resounding yes. He’s such a down to earth guy, and his love for being a police officer and more importantly, the love he has for being a police officer in a city like Richmond speaks volumes about his personality and his character. And who could have predicted that my interaction with a detective from another jurisdiction would lead me to have such a fantastic conversation with Devin? 

I think that’s the power of positivity. Even when you’re not looking, it’s everywhere. I’d like to thank Devin for coming on the podcast and hope that he comes back for a second conversation soon. And I hope you do, too.

So until next time, take care of one another and thanks for listening.

Once you listen to the episode, let me know if you enjoyed Johnnie as much as I did the second time around. There’s just something about Johnnie that’s so darn likable. That is as long as you’re the type of person who likes honest, non-political, highly intelligent, open people who aren’t afraid to speak their mind, despite outside forces trying their hardest to divide us. 

I want to thank Johnnie for taking the time out of crazily hectic schedule to come back on the show and spread some wisdom and positivity.

Below are some of the books Johnnie referenced in our conversation:

Outwitting the Devil  - Napoleon Hill

On Liberty - John Stuart Mill

TNT it Rocks the Earth- Claude Bristol

Your Faith is Your Fortune - Neville Goddard

You are the Placebo - Joe Dispenza

The Path to Prosperity - James Allen

Supreme Power Course - Dr. Murdo MacDonald Bayne 

And check out Johnnie on Instagram:  @misunderstood_g3enius

So, until next time, take care of one another and thanks for listening.

I love that Julia closed an interview about the publicity business by speaking about community and positivity. That personal connection is so important, no matter what you do or who you are. Positivity is out there, and while it may not seem to be as prevalent as all the bad stuff, you don’t have to look too hard to find it.

I’d like to thank Julia for coming on the show, and if anyone has any questions for Julia, let me know and I’ll bring her back for another episode.

Until next time, take care of one another, and thanks for listening.

Tracy is the author of not one, but two best selling book series, both set in Chicago and both with women of color as their protagonists. I had Tracy on as a guest back in March of 2023, and am thrilled that she came back for a second conversation and that I get the opportunity to talk to her again. I hope you enjoy the episode. And after you listen to it, answer a question for me.....

Am I a lucky guy or what?

I got to laugh and chat with Tracy Clark a second time and she’s just as charming as she was the first time we spoke. I hope everyone listening takes Tracy’s advice about reading authors from all backgrounds and walks of life. For that matter, that advice is good for just about anything in life, isn’t it?

I’d like to thank Tracy for coming back on and hopefully she’ll come back for a 3rd go ‘round.

And thank you all for listening. Together we can all make this world a better place. One interview at a time.

Make sure you check out Tracy's newest book here👇🏽👇🏽👇🏽

https://www.amazon.com/Fall-Detective-Harriet-Foster-Book-ebook/dp/B0BJLDSBM7/ref=sr_1_1?crid=26Y2RTVH7Q5GT&keywords=tracy+clark+fall&qid=1704839383&sprefix=tracy+clark+fall%2Caps%2C248&sr=8-1

Make sure you check out her Nena Knight series and anything else that she writes. 

Until next time, take care of one another, and thanks for listening.

Check out Yasmin through her social media:

X (Formerly Twitter): yasawriter

Instagram: author_yas

Facebook: Yasmin Angoe

OR....head over to her website:

http://www.yasminangoe.com

Once you finish listening, let me know what you thought of David. Did you think that he was open, honest and just an all around nice guy? So did I. I liked the fact that David had the courage to just go for it and create a product that he wanted to create. But I also like the fact that he said that he was in a position in his life to take a chance and make his vision a reality, with the understanding that if he had a wife and kids, The Calf Buster might not exist. The world needs more people like David. Inventors and creators, yes, but also people who are funny, kind, outgoing and naive. I think people like David help to combat all the negativity that seems to exist everywhere you look.

If you want to check out David and The Calf Buster, check out the links below:

http://www.thecalfbuster.com

http://www.OneCrate.com

He’s also on Facebook and Instagram: @calfbuster

So until next time, make absolutely sure that you take care of one another, avoid the negative and embrace the positive. Thanks for listening.

Once you listen, let me know what you think of Jen.  She and Tom have done so much for our Special Forces veterans and their families and there's so much more that they want to do. I'm currently reading a book entitled 'With the Old Breed: At Peleliu and Okinawa' written by World War 2 veteran Eugene Sledge. His book discusses the horrors that he and other young Marines faced in the Pacific theater of the war and the trauma that the survivors had to deal with when they returned home. Trauma that they had to try and cope with alone. Jen and Tom want to make sure that today's Special Forces soldiers and their families aren't alone when they come back home. 

If you want to help with their mission, check out their website in the link below:

       
      https://www.allsecurefoundation.org/

And until next time, take care of one another and take care of yourself. Until next time, thanks for listening.

After you listen to our conversation, let me know what you think of Maria. Prior to our discussion , I had never considered that being a reporter was a craft. And I’d assumed that since she was a reporter for the New York Times, she would have certainly gone to journalism school. That’s what I get for making assumptions. And that’s why I like to interview people from all different walks of life, all different professions, all different……well, you get the idea. I think that if we all just talk to people and then listen to those same people, the world would be a better place. What do you think? 

I’d like to thank Maria for taking time out of her hectic schedule to talk to me for a half hour before she had to head uptown to another appointment. She was an absolute joy to talk to. And to listen to.

Until next time, take care of one another and thanks for listening.

Once you listen to it, tell me what you think about Jon. I’m constantly amazed at the willingness of very popular people to agree to be interviewed by a guy with a small podcast, yet great folks like Jon continue to come on the show and talk about their work and their outlook on life. I think it’s an indication that even though bad news and conflict get clicks, people still like to talk about the good things in life and pass on to others their recipe for positivity. Jon and his obvious love for New York City are a fantastic example. If you just watched the news about New York, you’d think that it’s going back to the crime -riddled bad old days. Yet, all you need to do is watch just one of Jon’s videos about small delis and bodegas in the outer borroughs of the city and you’ll want to book a flight into JFK and go exploring. That’s what this podcast is all about.

Make sure you check out Jon's YouTube channel here:

https://www.youtube.com/@HereBeBarr

He's on Instagram too:

@here.be.barr

I'd like to thank Jon again for taking time out of his busy schedule to come on the show.

Until next time, take care of on another and thanks for listening.

Once you've heard it,  do you agree with Ben’s recommendation for Jenna as a podcast guest? Of course you do! Jenna’s a blast and I enjoyed talking to her. From Brooklyn, to Boston, then to Texas, North Carolina and landing in Georgia. Working with veterans, getting her doctorate and writing a novel on the side. Simply amazing. I’m hoping Jenna comes back on the show soon and updates us on her life, job and writing career.

Speaking of her writing career, check out Book 1 in her Stone Sister Series, Fearing Fate, at the link below:

https://m.goodnovel.com/book/Fearing-Fate_31000442102

And in case you follow that link and see the author as J.N. Stein, have no fear, that's Jenna's pen name!

So until next time, take care of one another, seek out the goodness in people and as always, thanks for listening.

So until next time, take care of one another, abide by the Golden rule and last but certainly not least, thanks for listening.

Mutual respect. 

Richard is one of my favorite people on this planet, and I’m lucky to have him as a friend.

Don't forget about the centennial of the Virginia Academy of Science; you can check out their website here👇🏽

http://www.vacadsci.org

Until next time, take care of one another, and thanks for listening.

Once you listen to the episode, let me know what you think of Don. From piloting an Apache helicopter in the Army, to FBI Agent, to a successful writer who writes three different series, Don is nothing short of amazing. Add to that amazingness that he took the time out of his incredibly busy schedule to call me when has another book due so soon and I’m absolutely blown away. If thrillers are your thing, and why wouldn’t  they be, check him out through his website:

http://donbentleybooks.com


And until next time, take care of on another and thanks for listening.

 I know that I repeat myself when I mention how fascinated I am when I talk to people from other countries and learn about the similarities and differences between the US and where they’re from, but it’s still true. Before talking to Jack, I had no idea that there were only a handful of police agencies responsible for law enforcement in Australia.


And, in writing the description for this episode, I found that Jack has another novel out, The Ghost Train & The Scarlet Moon.


 I think the beauty of current technology and social media is that they open up the world and allows us to explore a region outside of our own and we’re able to talk to people that we ordinarily wouldn’t be able to talk to. So even though it’s easy to condemn social media for people who misuse it, there’s always the opportunity to take advantage of the education it offers. 

I’d like to thank Jack for coming on the podcast and for being patient with me when I brought up Crocodile Dundee. I hate using the term, but that was truly a cringe question.

Also stay tuned for additional episodes with Jack because we’re discussing doing other interviews to talk about the realism of first responder writers versus what civilian writers think passes as real.

Until next time, take care of one another, and thanks for listening.


Check out Jack's website: https://www.jackroney.com.au/#/

After you listen to it, let me know what you think  of Tracy. Personally, I liked her about two seconds after she started talking. Authors always fascinate me, especially when they mention The Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew and Agatha Christie, though to be honest, I never read Christie. Regardless, I truly enjoyed talking to Tracy and enjoy her outlook on writing in particular and life in general. The world always needs more authors and we especially need more authors like Tracy. I hope she keeps writing for a long, long time.

Check out some of Tracy's links below:

http://www.tracyclarkbooks.com

https://twitter.com/tracypc6161

https://www.facebook.com/tclarkbooks

https://www.instagram.com/tpclark2000/

And.........

I asked Tracy to recommend some of the authors that she reads. Per her, these are her 'automatic buys'.......

Rachel Howzell Hall

Laurie R. King

S.A. Cosby

Isabella Maldonado

Walter Mosley

Sara Paretsky

Cheryl Head

Delia Pitts

Ann Cleeves

Until next time, take care of one another, and thanks for listening.

Now, I realize that a lot of my listeners may not have had a chance to read The Instructor yet, since its not due to be released until April, but I strongly recommend that you do once it’s released. If you’re a fan of action books like I am, you’ll love it. In my interviews I normally ask how my guests stay positive in life, but Tim hits the point a number of times; not delving into politics, not trying to force his views on his readers and just wanting everyone to enjoy his books and be proud of America. I couldn’t have said it better myself.

I’m looking forward to Tim’s next book and I hope that he keeps writing them and comes back on the show after each book.

Here's a link to The Instructor on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Instructor-Derek-Harrington-Novel-ebook/dp/B09XL9GRJB/ref=sr_1_1?crid=653GDIWDQZJO&keywords=the+instructor+t.r.+hendricks&qid=1676971347&sprefix=t.r.+hendricks%2Caps%2C405&sr=8-1

Check out Tim's social media down below:

http://trhendricksauthor.com

Twitter: @TR_Hendricks

IG: @readtrhendricks

TikTok: @readtrhendricks

Want to check out some of the authors Tim mentioned? 

Don Bentley: The Matt Drake series

Jack Carr: The James Reece series (The Terminal List on Amazon Prime Video)

Simon Gervais: Three series- Mike Walton, Pierce Hunt and Clayton White. Plus a new Robert Ludlum Bourne universe novel).

Mark Greaney: The Gray Man series (also The Gray Man movie on Netflix).

Nick Petrie: The Peter Ash series

Connor Sullivan: The thrillers, Sleeping Bear and Wolf Trap.

Until next time, take care of one another and as always, thanks for listening.

 I think most people idolize our Special Operations warriors and rightly so. They’re out on the front lines and beyond keeping not only Americans safe, but people from other countries as well. But what most of us don’t think about is the effect that their service has on their mental and physical well-being, not to mention the physical and mental well-being of their spouses. I strongly recommend reading All Secure and Jen’s book, Arsenal of Hope: Tactics for Taking on PTSD together. You can find Tom and Jen at the links below and I hope you take some time to do so. 

We’re all in this world together, so let’s take care of one another.

Until next time, thanks for listening.

Tom and Jen’s social media:

Instagram:  @allsecurefoundation

                          @virago_allsecurefoundationhomefront

Facebook: @AllSecureFoundation

Online: AllSecureFoundation.org

Tom and Steve's book:

All Secure: A Special Operations Soldier's Fight to Survive on the Battlefield and the Homefront

https://www.amazon.com/All-Secure-Operators-Battlefield-Homefront-ebook/dp/B07H2D6B4K/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=all+secure+tom+satterly&qid=1674298531&sr=8-1

Jen's book:

Arsenal of Hope: Tactics for Taking on PTSD, Together

https://www.amazon.com/Arsenal-Hope-Tactics-Taking-Together-ebook/dp/B08R6NJJMH/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3LIBOFKXJPRRA&keywords=jennifer+satterly&qid=1674298664&sprefix=jennifer+satterly%2Caps%2C342&sr=8-1

From making his own YouTube videos, to getting called to work at a radio station, to VCU and then to WTVR, Tyler’s truly making a name for himself as a journalist. To me, Tyler represents what true journalism is; fair and balanced reporting. I think it’s the media’s responsibility to dig deep and ask the hard questions, regardless of any political affiliation the person being questioned has. I think we as a country deserve to know as much as we can about events that shape our lives, and Tyler is doing exactly that. I wish Tyler the best of luck in his career and hope he stays in the Richmond area for years to come.

Until next time, take care of one another, and thanks for listening.

I think that the courage exhibited by Meredith and Sam speaks volumes about their characters, and also perfectly showcases the power of forgiveness.

Until next time, take care of one another and thanks for listening.

After you listen, I'm sure that you'll be as amazed at Meredith’s story as I was. As I mentioned to Meredith in the podcast, prior to reading about her journey, I could never have imagined forgiving the person who killed a family member. Her journey truly opened my eyes about the power of forgiveness; not just the benefits of the person who has been forgiven, but for the person doing the forgiving. As Meredith said, what harm does it do to give the gift of forgiveness? If the person that you’re forgiving isn’t appreciative of it, so what? You still reap the benefits. 

Meredith is a wonderful, insightful person and I enjoyed having her on the show. I hope she’ll come back in the future and we can talk again. 

Until next time, please don’t drive while distracted; it just not worth it.

This episode is dedicated to Meredith’s mother, Karen Giles.

Take care of one another, and thanks for listening.

 I’ve asked so many people their opinion on why crime in Richmond seems to be so rampant, but Colette’s three F’s, Family-Friends-and Firearms sure does make a whole lot of sense. She also makes the valid point that the government can only do so much; it’s up to us as a community to find a solution. If we really start to talk to and listen to one another, if we go back to the theory that it takes a village to raise a child, then we can make real progress in reducing hatred and violence in not just Richmond, but all over the world. 

What do you think? 

Until next time, take care of one another, and as always, thanks for listening.

I told him that I wanted him on because of the content of his character, not necessarily because of the content of his channel. To me, Pat’s old school charm of presenting information on the history of cars that he grew up with is what makes his channel so special. He’s not judgy or preachy or political. He just talks about what he enjoys and shares it with others. 

In my opinion, that’s what being positive is all about: doing something you love and sharing it with others.

If you get a chance, I highly recommend heading over to his channel and checking out his videos. You’ll be glad that you did.

You can find him on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MyOldCar

Or over on Instagram: myoldcar1981

Until next time, take care of one another and as always, thanks for listening.

I’m so grateful for all of my guests, most of which I’ve never met in person and only spoken to on the phone. Like Keith said, when he was a dispatcher, he never met the people he sent on calls in person; he’s only spoken to them on the radio and by phone. So they speak and he listens. Now that’s a lesson we should all take to heart.

Until next time, take care of one another and thanks for listening.

After you listen, tell me what you think. I always knew that the soldiers who fought in the Vietnam war were, on average, 19 years old, but when I saw the photos of Fred in his book and how much he resembled my teenage sons, it really brought it home to me. The way the Vietnam vets were treated when they came home  truly makes my blood boil. I can’t help but compare it to the way that police officers were treated in 2020. But this episode isn’t about me and my feelings about cops and 2020. Its about Fred and the positive message that he’s delivering. The fact that military veterans are now treated with the respect that they deserve, thanks in a large part to what was learned about the PTSD from the Vietnam vets benefits everyone; vets and non-vets alike. 

Do yourself a favor and check out Fred’s website here:

http://www.stingergunships.com/

Then head over to his author page on Amazon here:

http://www.amazon.com/author/fred-allen

Take care of one another. And until next time, thanks for listening.

Like Hannah said, be nice to each other. It really is just that easy.


Head on over to her IG page and get to know her a little better: The One Hip Wonder

Until next time, take care of each other. And as always, thanks for listening.

Riddled with guilt and grief, Mia is struggling with the day-to-day of being a single, working mother. Reluctantly, she agrees to a night out dancing with friends, where she meets Sean, a man with which she feels an instant connection. Her friends celebrate the new romance and urge her to follow her heart. But Mia isn't sure a broken heart is reliable. 

Publication date: Nov. 15, 2022

Preorder link: https://tinyurl.com/42fha3su

Website: glorialucas.com

If you or anyone you know are contemplating suicide, please call 988. 

Or visit: https://988lifeline.org/

Crisis Text Line: Text START to 741-741

Veterans: call 988, option 1

Text 838255

LGBTQ+ specific support: 

https://www.thetrevorproject.org/

Call: (866) 488-7386

Trans Lifeline: (877) 565-8860

Take care of one another, and as always, thanks for listening.

Check out the link for Raven’s website below, and as always, thanks for listening.

http://www.thesirenpodcast.com

 Are you ready to preorder Fiesta Nights? You ought to. Also, if there is a local Hispanic Heritage month event going on where you live, I encourage you to go to it and explore the people, the culture, the customs and the food. I think that the more we learn about other people, the easier it is to disregard and ignore stereotypes that we may have learned years ago. 

Think about it. Why on earth would you just want to know a single culture? Doesn’t that sound incredibly boring? Plus, it makes you willfully ignorant and who wants to be ignorant? Not me and if you’re listening to this, I bet not you either. 

Don’t forget to check out Gloria’s website at glorialucas.com and  preorder Fiesta Nights here:

https://books2read.com/fiestanights

Want a further description of the book?

Party, celebrate, and dance the night away!

From Cupcakes with Carlos to Valentina’s liar, this collection brings the heat.

Dance with fate, celebrate culture, and fall in love with traditions. Chefs, coaches, tequila distributors—Fiesta Nights incorporates your favorite tropes with characters from all around the globe.

If you love Alexis Daria’s bilingual characters or the Latin flare of Priscilla Olivera, Fiesta Nights will rock your world.

Unity makes a community and we’re all in this together, so take care of each other and until next time, thanks for listening.

      Can you imagine being diagnosed with a disease like Rheumatoid Arthritis at the age of 24? And then getting no support from some of the people closest to you and having to deal with it alone? But despite that, you persevere and climb out of your depression basically on your own. That’s exactly what this podcast is all about. We all have a strength within us that we draw on to overcome diversity and strife. Sometimes we just need to be reminded that it’s there and it’s available when we truly need it. I encourage everyone listening to check out Andrea’s journal on Amazon and give it a read. Find your own strength and never give up.

Take care of one another and thanks for listening.

Check out the links below:

Amazon book:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B1JWYWJX?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

FB link:

 https://www.facebook.com/AndreaAwesomeDunn

Instagram: 

andrea.ra.oa.wyldchyld

Mastermind RA course:

https://app.mastermind.com/masterminds/32543

And don't forget that July is Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis Month:

https://www.arthritis.org/about-arthritis/types/juvenile-arthritis/

That’s all I’ve got for this episode. I’d like to thank Peter for coming on the podcast and I encourage everyone listening to pick up one of his novels and try to get you own reset.

You can visit his website here:

https://www.peterabrahams.com/

Thanks for listening. 

Check Noemi out on Instagram: noemi.creativesouls

Or go to her website:

http://www.noemicreativesouls.com

As always, look out for one another and ignore anyone who wants to divide us.

Thanks for listening.

 As many of you know, I was a Youth and Family Crimes detective for two years before I transitioned to the Homicide Unit, so I’ll always have a soft spot in my heart for these overworked and under-appreciated detectives. The horrors that they see on a daily basis, a truly daily basis, is nearly overwhelming. And unlike homicides and shootings, which ebb and flow, crimes against children are constant. Add to that stress having to work on the Crowd Management Team during 2020 and its a wonder there are any detectives left to investigate these cases. Jose made the right choice to get out of police work and achieve his life-work balance, and many other police officers are doing the same thing. 

Despite what the media, politicians and entertainers say, police officers are a valiant and courageous group of people who do a hard, necessary and many times thankless job. That being said, I’d like to thank the majority of people who do support the police, even though this majority seldom get heard in any mainstream arena.

I’d also like to thank Jose for coming on the podcast and wish him the best of luck in his new career.

Check out his company's website:

http://www.theriveragroupva.com

And you can call him directly:

(860) 912-3003

Take care of one another and thanks for listening.

So, read his books, have a great belly laugh, and take care of each other.

Thanks for listening.

Vic's Amazon and Facebook pages: Enjoy!!

https://www.amazon.com/Vic-Ferrari/e/B01IIQXLBC?ref_=dbs_p_ebk_r00_abau_000000

https://m.facebook.com/vicferrarinypd?tsid=0.9291560248153222&source=result

I can’t tell you the amount of respect and admiration I have for her and the rest of the CMT officers who stood on the front line during the riots in Richmond, 2020. And yes, I mean riots. Widespread damage, destruction and violence are riots. They can’t be spun otherwise. But like Brenda and the ton of other cops I know say, we all support peaceful protest for change. Period. 

There are many stories in the press about cops who have left law enforcement since 2020, but like Brenda, there are even more officers who stay in the field because they love what they do. And what do they love to do? Help people and through their dedication and service, let people in all communities live well.

We’re all in this world together. Let’s all work together to make our world a place where living well is the norm, not the exception.

Thanks for listening.

Social Media:

https://www.facebook.com/thegivingnotesproject

https://www.instagram.com/thegivingnotesproject/

As always, take care of each other, do your best to not crave what’s bad for you, and most importantly, thanks for listening.

The full version of the song with the lyrics and story can be found here: https://www.thegivingnotesproject.com/songs/officer-brenda-ruiz

Emily's Personal Social Media & Sites:

Instagram - instagram.com/emilyroig

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/emilyroigmusic

Website - www.emilyroig.com

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/artist/0g22CKPhT46JvUvg8epVM5?si=w31Uv3GoQUWbZP03s4jScg

Patreon - www.patreon.com/emilyroig

The Giving Notes Project Website - https://www.thegivingnotesproject.com

Once you finish with the episode, you have got to check out his YouTube page, as well as the photos on his Instagram page. I’ll make sure that I include the links on the description page of the podcast. Just scrolling through the pictures on his Instagram page will put a smile on your face. As he said in his email to me, positivity is contagious and we can all spread the positive message simply by ignoring the people who want to divide us. I hope Johnnie keeps putting his message out there and his audience grows exponentially every week. 

I’ll say it again: positivity is contagious. We need to all do our part to keep it that way. 

Take care of each other, and thanks for listening.

Check out Johnnie's social media:

Facebook: Johnnie Calloway
Instagram: @johnniecallowaysr
Twitter: @jmcalloway6

     Whenever I called communications and Ms Ross answered the phone, I knew I’d better come correct. Her voice instills respect and admiration in even the saltiest of police veterans. As we were speaking after the recorded interview, Ms. Ross mentioned the emotional toll that comes along with being a police dispatcher and how it affected her mental health. She agreed to come back and talk openly and honestly about a panic attack she had and how it caused her to seek counseling. I hope you all come back to listen to part two of Ms. Ross’ podcast.

Until then, take care of one another and thanks for listening.

And on Instagram: @veetellstales

Take care of each other, and thanks for listening.

How many folks out there have the courage to pack everything up, move to another state and follow a dream?  Kari’s got lots of guts and drive, and she’s not showing any signs of slowing down. Make sure you head over to her website to check out her music, and if you get a chance to catch one of her live shows, jump on it.

The music playing in the background of the Intro and Outro is one of Kari's songs, Gypsy of Love.

Her web address is: http://karismithmusic.com

Take care of each other and thanks for listening.

After you listen to our conversation, you have to go and check out her Instagram page; her poetry will amaze you. 

I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again: I am always in awe of inner strength and seek it out wherever I can. All of my guests have it and I’m eternally grateful to them for sharing it with me and with my listeners. 

Try to find your own self compassion and take care of yourself while you take care of others.

Thanks for listening. Bri’s Instagram handle is below:

bri_stokes_writes

 With all the drama and negativity that we can be exposed to every day, it’s so easy to forget that positive energy exists. More often than not, we’re bombarded with hatred, divisiveness and manufactured outrage from the media, the entertainment industry and our so-called leaders. It’s convenient to just pick up our phones, turn on the television, or tune in to a podcast and settle for whatever is being presented. The newspaper adage, if it bleeds, it leads, is still an apt description for what many consider entertainment. But if we dig a little deeper, and ignore the hate that they’re trying to sell, we’ll find that there’s more positive energy out there than negative. 

So, what’s your positive?

Take care of each other, and thanks for listening.

 If you were given the opportunity and control to choose, would you choose quantity of life or quality of life? How would you make that decision? What would influence you? 

As a society, I think many of us have a hard time dealing with death and become uncomfortable in our conversations with someone who has recently lost a loved one.

In the conversation with Renee, she speaks of people who meant well, but made statements about knowing how she feels, when if they haven’t lost a close loved one, they have no idea. They can sympathize, but not emphasize.

Conversely , the person who has lost someone needs to let well wishers know what will help and what will not.

The bottom line is that we’re all in this life together, and when a life ends on this earth, those of us left here need to take care of each other to the best of our abilities.

Thanks for listening.

By the way, I should mention that Robert and I planned the date of this podcast through Facebook messenger. About a week had passed between the last time we communicated and the date of my call to him. So I set up my equipment and placed the call. He answered and I said, “Hey Robert, its Jamie Baynes. How are you?”

He said, “I’m great, thanks.”

I said, “Are you ready to do this?”

In his unmistakable New York Accent he replied, “Do what? Who’s this?”

Luckily, it got better from there as you can tell by our conversation. Robert was an absolute blast to talk to and hopefully he’ll come back to do another episode. 

Until then, head over to his website I put in the description of the podcast, or go to his Amazon page. 

Take care of each other and thanks for listening.

http://www.robertbryanauthor.webnode.com/

I’d like to thank Mike for coming on the podcast and I hope he keeps on writing his fantastic novels.

Take care of one another and thanks for listening.

Bio

Mike is a screenwriter and the author of the Remo Cobb series, Relentless and Genuinely Dangerous. His shorter work has appeared in ThugLit, Shotgun Honey and Out of the Gutter and Remo Went Rogue has been translated for French publication.

He’s been a waiter, a securities trader, dishwasher, bartender, investment analyst and an unpaid Hollywood intern.

He has quit corporate America, come back, been fired, been promoted, been fired again. Currently, he writes stories about questionable people who make questionable decisions.

mikemccrary.com

Once you get done listening, make sure you check out Jason's Bio below, as well as all of his books. You won't be disappointed.

 Jason Kasper is the USA Today bestselling author of the Shadow Strike thriller series among others. Before his writing career he served in the US Army, beginning as a Ranger private and ending as a Green Beret captain. Jason is a West Point graduate and a veteran of the Afghanistan and Iraq wars, and was an avid ultramarathon runner, skydiver, and BASE jumper, all of which inspire his fiction.

Books referenced in podcast:

Story by Robert McKee: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0042FZVOY 

Save the Cat! Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B078VWDNKT 

Greatest Enemy (American Mercenary #1): https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N2NLNH5 

The Spider Heist (Spider Heist #1): https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07X33LVDL 

The Enemies of My Country (Shadow Strike #1): https://www.amazon.com/dp/B083Y4KC7Q 

And make sure to connect with Jeremy:

Website: www.jeremyforsyth.co.za

Facebook: Jeremy Forsyth

Instagram: Jays_Andrew

Twitter: Jeremy Forsyth

 Despite being a police officer for over 30yrs, he still maintains a sunny outlook on life and it shows in our interview.

Make sure that you head on over to his website where you can find all of his work:

https://linktr.ee/timpusha

Take care of each other and stay positive.

Thanks for listening 

Make sure you check out her Instagram page: amumakhuvela

And......

Her book, Basket of Grief, on Amazon!

If you want to check out the Youtube channel with the director’s other work, head on over to Hollywood Graveyard on YouTube, but make sure you set a reminder on your calendar to catch The Poet!

And if you want to try out for some parts in Virginia, check out www.film.virginia.org

David and the folks at Frontline Writers epitomize why I started this podcast. There’s so many good people in this world but it seems like we only get to hear about the people who aren’t so good. We need to turn that around and focus more on the positive things that people do and simply ignore the hatred and ignorance. The people at Frontline Writers know this and put it into practice everyday. 

If you’re a frontline worker from Virginia, or any other state, head over to the Frontline Writers website listed below and consider signing up for a class. And, as always, keep spreading the positivity.

Thanks for listening.

https://www.frontlinewriters.org

 Also let me know what you think about  the fact that 80% of people like Emily can’t find work, despite having a skillset that is equal to or greater than people working the same job.

 The way Emily looks at people is the way we should all look at people: not judging others by the color of their skin, their gender, their religious beliefs or any of the other ways that people who claim to be leaders want us to look at each other. Emily looks at each person as a fellow human being clumped together with other human beings here on earth. Period. 

Make sure you check out Emily’s bio down below, and hit a few of the links PJ lists.  Then head over to Emily's  website and get yourself a bracelet or six. 

Remember, look out for one another, and ignore anyone who wants you to hate another human being simply because they’re different than you are.

Thanks for listening.

Emily's Bio:

Emily Morrissey is a young adult with Cerebral Palsy who has found her passion in making bracelets and spreading smiles! Emily's family members were concerned about what job she would have after high school, as the unfortunate reality of the situation is that 80% of individuals with disabilities are not active in the workforce. Ever since she was a little girl, Emily has been making special bracelets through occupational therapy to strengthen her fine motor skills. On October 1st, 2018, Emily's Bracelets was launched as an answer to her family's concerns. 

Here are some links:

https://www.specialolympicsva.org/

https://www.tablespoonsbakery.com/ (you can reach out to elizabeth@nextmoveprogram.org and kelsey@nextmoveprogram.org)

https://friendshipcircleva.org/

https://emilysbracelets.com

https://www.instagram.com/emily.s.bracelets/

https://www.facebook.com/emilymsbracelets

https://twitter.com/emilys_bracelet

 Do you agree or disagree with what we talked about? Do you think it’s racist to even talk about Black on Black crime, and if so, why? Do you think it’s racist to say that all lives matter? Can Black people be racist or is racism reserved for white people only? 

Until we, as a society, can have open conversations about race and address real problems within the community, all we’re doing is just ignoring a catastrophic cycle of people being killed while some politicians and activists make excuses and promises that amount to nothing more than pandering for more power. It’s time to stop ignoring the problem and work together to find the solution. 

I’d like to thank Kim Drake, Nikki Bailey, Joe Fultz and Reggie Allen lefor coming back to the podcast and having the courage to talk about Black on Black crime and not mince words. I hope to have them all again.

Take care of one another and thanks for listening.

When you're done with the podcast, make sure you check out David’s newest novel, Isaac’s Beacon, available anywhere you get your books.

As always, take care of each other and thanks for listening.

Make sure that you check out Dan’s YouTube channel, Cozy Corner FTL as well as the Red Corner Benefit which is a non-profit organization that supports the fight against childhood cancer. Their website is redcornerbenefit.org

Stay positive, take care of each other and thanks for listening.

Shannon and I talk about her career, the purpose of grand juries, her take on the Justice system and her views on the growing number of women who have been elected as Commonwealth and District attorneys.

A lot is packed into our interview so let’s get to it. 

I hope you enjoy our discussion.

A point that Christina really drove home is that how you view racism is derived from your personal experience with it. Racism is not just black and white. It exists across the entire spectrum and until we can all come to the table and have those uncomfortable conversations, we’re just spinning our wheels. 

Humans come in all different colors, like the spice analogy Christina gave. We should embrace each other because of our differences and enjoy each other for who we are.

Ignore the people who want to divide us. Take care of each other and treat others the way you want to be treated.

Thanks for listening.

And remember to check out her book on Amazon!

Kim had initially reached out to me in response to a promo I did asking for people to come on the podcast and talk about topics that can be hard to talk about. Kim suggested talking about gay and lesbian cops and volunteered to come on the podcast to discuss. Since she has a wife and four kids, I figured she knew what she was talking about and here she is. 

Take a listen to our conversation and let me know what you think.

Chief English and I talk about his experiences with the three police agencies, his views on George Floyd in Minneapolis and his advice for people who may be considering law enforcement as a career choice.

We also talk about race relations, though not just between police officers and the community they’ve sworn to protect. Chief English talks about why he thinks people of the same race may choose to congregate with people who look like they do.

I hope you enjoy the interview.

Joi and I talk about her growing up as a cop’s kid, working for the local media and what she loves about Richmond and it’s citizens.

Take a listen to our interview and let me know what you think.

As we all know, kneeling has become a controversial flashpoint within the last few years. However the reason Chris is kneeling has been a constant for centuries; he’s kneeling in  prayer.

As a disclaimer, I’m not advocating for or against religion, nor am I putting one religion in front of another.

This is simply one officer’s story.

I hope you enjoy the podcast.

And remember, ignore the wicked people who want to drive us apart. We’re better than they are. We always have been and always will be.

Take care of one another.

Thanks for listening.

Recently, Vaughan posted something on Facebook which I replied to in the comments section of his post. We didn’t see eye to eye and went back and forth a couple times, online. I asked him if he wanted to continue the discussion through this podcast and he said he would. So here he is. Listen to our discussion and let me know what you think.

Before our interview begins, though,  programming note. Toward the end of the interview, my phone dies and, obviously the call drops. So, there may be a small break in the conversation, but the phone reboots and the interview continues. 

For some reason, I always seem to have technical difficulties at the end of my interviews. Regardless, I really enjoyed talking to Lynne and I hope you enjoy the interview.

     I’d like to thank Brendan and Carl for being on the podcast and for giving the officers of Richmond a voice. As Carl mentioned, the morale within the department has been on a slow decline for years, but the events of 2020 accelerated the loss of morale. How ridiculous is it that a City of Richmond officer makes less than that of a college campus police officer and that college campus is in the heart of the city? And that’s not a dig at the campus police officers; they are absolutely some of the finest officers I’ve ever met. Carl also mentioned that it would take (9) years for a Richmond police officer just coming out of the academy to make as much as the starting pay for a Henrico officer. Unbelievable. 

The bottom line is that Richmond officers, generally, face more calls for sexual assaults, shootings, stabbings and homicides than their suburban counterparts. Not to mention the amount of property crimes that occur in the city on a daily basis. Yet the city officers are payed far less than nearly every other jurisdiction. 

But, both officers are hanging in there because they have hope for the department and hope for the city. That’s what it’s all about. I’m proud of them and every other officer who stays with the department and believes that being a police officer in the city is the most noble professions there is. 

Look out for one another and spread peace,  not hate. 

Together, we can cake a difference.

Thanks for listening.

To be honest, I wasn’t sure what this interview would be about or where it would lead, but that’s part of the fun of this podcast; just chatting with people. 

I hope you enjoy the interview.

Jon was born in Chesterfield and considers the Richmond area his home. I met Jon while I was a Homicide detective in Richmond and we’ve remained in touch even after I retired. 

I asked Jon to come on the podcast because he talks to people in and around Richmond, and more importantly, people talk to him because they trust him. 

I’ve mentioned issues I have with the media in previous podcasts, but said not all media. I choose not to paint anyone, nor any profession with a broad brush. Jon represents the kind of media I think we all want and deserve: fair, impartial and trustworthy. 

Check out the book Jon co-authored, Bearing Witness to Evil. Its available on all the usual platforms, but Jon would PREFER you check it out at bearingwitnesstoevil.com

Before I begin the interview, I want to let you know that I recorded Jon while he was on the phone, so the audio quality of his voice SOUNDS like he’s on the phone while my voice sounds clearer, and his portion is NOT in stereo so that I can cut down on the background static. I’ll be experimenting with different programs, equipment etc as time goes by, so bear with me. I’ll also be doing in-person interviews in the future as well, so that will improve the audio quality. 


PLUS........an alarm sounds midway through the interview which was my timer to remember to call Jon! As I've mentioned, these aren't scripted and stuff happens. Roll with the rawness.